Czechoslovakia
The "Sudetenland"
Introduction
After his brilliant success in Austria, Hitler wished to bring Czechoslovakia into his Reich by a quick, decisive military attack. He was particularly with the area of the nation that included many ethnic Germans (dubbed the "Sudetenland.") Many of these ethnic Germans were clamoring for a unification with Germany similar to the Austrian "Anschluss." When Hitler demanded these peoples be given autonomy and increased rights, the Czechoslovakian government rejected the first demand and said it would consider the second. Hitler had prepared invasion plans, which shocked his generals who knew an invasion might bring war with France and Great Britain, possibly even the Soviet Union.
What is the "Sudetenland?"
The Munich Agreement
In September 1938, Hitler had demanded the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia or he would take it and the rest of the nation by force. Both France and Great Britain wanted to avoid another world war and signed the 1938 Munich Agreement, an appeasement policy, which attempted to sooth the greedy Germany into pacify by sacrificing on a minor issue (the "Sudetenland.") By signing the pact, both nations ignored their alliance with Czechoslovakia and forced the transfer of any provinces with more than 50% of the population speaking German to the Third Reich. Dated September 29th, but signed the 30th, the document overrode the Czechs and gave three and a half million people, most of its natural resources, and the entire fortification system away. Future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called it a "unmitigated defeat," while the the populace lauded the Agreement.
"I believe it is peace in our time." ~Neville Chamberlain speaks of the Agreement
"England has been offered the choice between war and shame. She has chosen shame, and will get war." ~Winston Churchill denounces the Agreement
Where is Munich?
Munich, Germany:
Photos
Invasion
The Munich Agreement took the areas in dark purple from Czechoslovakia (inside the semi-opaque boundary) and opened up the nation to other territory grabs. Both Poland (green) and Hungary (red) seized territory from Czechoslovakia with Hitler's support in the First Vienna Award and the Slovak Republic (orange) broke away by Hitler's intervention. By March 1939, all that was left of Czechoslovakia were Bohemia and Moravia (pale purple), which would soon be taken by Germany.
Early on March 15h, 1939, Hitler threatened Prague (the capitol of Czechoslovakia) with bombing if Bohemia and Moravia did not allow German soldiers to march into the country unchallenged. The government agreed and in the morning soldiers entered the country. Czechoslovakia had ceased to exist. The next day the territory was declared the German Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The Slovak Republic joined Germany as well. The annexation was met with mixed reactions in Germany, Great Britain, and France, although more persons were beginning to worry about the German expansion.